Ah, this day has finally arrived. I've been waiting to be able to speak my piece about how important one Mr. Peter Dolving is to the Swedish Thrash Force known as The Haunted for quite some time now. First off, I have to let it be known that I feel that this band's self-titled debut lp stands as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. In addition, I just don't feel that the band has been able to live up to the legacy since Dolving's departure shortly before their inaugural US tour supporting Testament back in 2000.

That is, until now. While MADE ME DO IT was a glorified ep with 2 unfuckwithable tracks and loads of filled, and last year's ONE KILL WONDER was a step in the right direction musically, the unfortunate fact was that the band just wasn't the same without Dolving on the mic. Fast forward to the present and you have rEVOLVEr, the band's newest devastator. This record stands as both a triumphant return to form, as well as a brave step forward. The first thing we notice from opening barnstormer "No Compromise" is just that: the song possesses all of the thrashtastic riffing and brutalizing breaks that the band have earned their bread doing since '99.

Speaking of "99", this happens to be the title of the album's second track, and is by far one of it's strongest. I'd venture to say that this song can represent everything The Haunted is about within it's 4 minute running time. Pure violence. It's on the album's next track, "Abysmal", where we see the band taking some risks. Featuring clean singing from the country/blues influenced Dolving, "Abysmal" is a haunting, mid-paced tune that serves as the perfect lead-in for the all out assault of "Sabotage".

This, in fact, is what I feel is one of rEVOLVEr's greatest strengths; it's sense of pacing. It isn't balls to the wall fast all the time, nor does it drag it's feet by setting slow tracks next to each other. For every couple of pulse-racers, there is a slow burn to follow it up, luring the listener into the album's flow.

Of course, every great album has to have it's centerpiece, and for rEVOLVEr, that track is "All Against All". Serving as the record's first video, the track is an ultra catchy, melodic, and memorable song with some of Dolving's finest lyrics/vocals, both screamed and sung, ever. This track is my personal favorite, and should prove to be one of the band's live classics for years to come. Check out the amazing bridge section in this song if you need any further proof that this band rules.

Another one of the album's slower jams, "Burnt to a Shell" showcases a cool southern/stoner vibe to the proceedings, while the Jonas Bjorler-penned tune "Who Will Decide" is a vicious blast of old school hardcore fury, featuring guest vocals by none other than Sick of It All legend Lou Koller. Though the digipack version of the album will contain two killer bonus tracks("Fire Alive" and the cheekily titled "Smut King"), the final 3 proper album tracks are equally rockin'.

Though "Nothing Right" may open up with a dodgy lyrical choice, ("hey hey, what do you say/do you wanna be part of the freakshow?"), the song itself contains some of the album's catchiest riff work within it's chorus. "Liquid Burns" is equally vicious jam which reminds me of "Hate Song" a bit(especially in the solo break) , with the final track of rEVOLVEr being the epic and melancholic "My Shadow". Echoing one of the band's other most underrated tracks, "Forensick", "My Shadow" begins equally dirgy, yet doesn't pick up the pace the way "Forensick" did. Instead, the chorus resonates hypnotically and fades out. While I dig the song, I do kinda wish they ended the track in a blaze of glory, but que sera sera.

To be honest, I don't think there was any way in hell I was going to dislike this record. Luckily though, I can honestly say that rEVOLVEr is one hell of an album. While nothing will ever compare to that first record, rEVOLVEr is the band's best effort since then. To an extent, it could be considered a sophomore effort, depending on which era of the band you prefer. What is universal however, is that the band is firing on all cylinders. Dolving rants, raves, and croons his way all over each and every tune; rEVOLVEr is his record for sure.

Just like the brass knuckles emblazoned on the disc itself, rEVOLVEr is an aural beating. With this album's 13 tracks, Doling and Co. look poised and primed to reclaim their throne. Longtime fans rejoice, for rEVOLVEr is absolutely mandatory.

The Haunted have won two Swedish Grammy Awards in the category of Best Hard Rock band. Meanwhile, they’ve been touring endlessly around the world with acts like Slayer, Morbid Angel, In Flames and Napalm Death to mention a few. The band’s self-titled debut album from 1998 is a modern day classic of ground breaking thrash metal. The Haunted have continued to deliver thrash metal of the highest level to this day.

After the debut album was released the band had a setback when lead singer Peter Dolving announced that he was leaving. Peter was replaced by former Face Down vocalist Marco Aro on the following three albums THE HAUNTED MADE ME DO IT, LIVE ROUNDS IN TOKYO and ONE KILL WONDER. I have seen the band live several times with Aro behind the mic and it feels like you’ve been hit by a train. After a very long tour in support of ONE KILL WONDER Aro left the band and Dolving was asked to join the band. He accepted and Aro returned to his old band again. REVOLVER is their first release on Century Media.

The Haunted have always played pure straight-in-your-face thrash metal without any compromises and no mellow parts in any songs. On this album they have chosen to move in another direction musicwise which I will come to later.

REVOLVER was recorded in the very famous Fredman Studio in Gothenburg from February through March of this year. The production was done by the band with help from Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J Sten. The album was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen. As always when Nordström is in the producer seat, the production sounds great. The Haunted sounds angry, raw, aggressive, brutal and fast, just like they should sound. The only exception on this album compared with the other ones is that this album has a darker sound and they have also added some “slower” parts here and there. The drums are heavy and pounding along with some sharp guitars and at the top of the mix lies Dolving’s angry lead vocals.

The band runs through eleven tracks and the music is written by the Björler twins and Jensen. Dolving has written all of the very angry lyrics and the band have done all the arrangements together.

“No Compromise”, “99”, “All Against All”, “Sweet Relief”, “Sabotage”, “Who Will Decide”, “Nothing Right”, “Liquid Burns” and “My Shadow” are brutal, hard and fast thrash metal songs where Dolving shows that he is in as good a shape vocally now as he were on the debut. The drummer hammers on the drums and really knows how to play uncompromised raw thrash metal. The sound is incredibly heavy and brutal with some soaring guitar play. In “Who Will Decide” Lou Keller from Sick Of It All appears and it sounds like the two vocalists are sharing the mic. “Abysmal” and “Burnt To A Shell” are two slower songs. The first starts off with only guitar and vocals and Dolving sings with an ordinary voice but when it all kicks off he returns to sounding angry again. This song is a perfect example of The Haunted’s change in pace that I mentioned earlier. Also the second song is a bit slower with a lot of tempo changes.

The Haunted are still on the thrash metal throne with this partly brilliant album. I’m still not sure what I should think of the slower parts in the songs but maybe it just takes a while to adjust to the new direction they have chosen to turn to. The guys are really tight and they have very strong and well produced material.

During a limited time there will be a limited edition of the album with alternate artwork and two exclusive bonus tracks provided. There’s only one thing to say, BUY THIS ALBUM RIGHT KNOW!